Work-holding device having a ball and socket as a means for universal adjustment



C. W. BARKER WORK HOLDING DEVICE HAVING BALLS AND SOCKETS AS MEANS FORUNIVERSAL ADJUSTMENTS Filed Oct. 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fzal 28 11711:.2 z 27 50 27 z; 31 24 28 l 25 l INVENTOR.

11 BY Clemon W. Barker 7 777. m

- ATTORNEY Aug. 1, 1944.

WORK HOLDING DEVICE HAVING BALLS AND SOCKETS AS.MEANS FOR UNIVERSALADJUSTMENTSv c. w. BARKER 2,354,937

Filed Oqt. 2, 1942 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 cam 31 1. 11;. 7 3 -29 INVENTOR. 42Clemon W Barker ATTORNEY Patented A ug. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES woax-nommeDEVICE HAVING 1! BALL AND SOCKET as AMEANS FOEUNIVERSAL ADJUSTMENTClemon W. Barker, Wichita, Kans. Application October 2, 1942, Serial No.460,584

My invention relates to a universal work support. 'l'he object of myinvention is to provide a work support device to which the work may beattached and then turnedto any desired position and rigidly held therefor the workman.

A further object is to provide a device of the kind mentioned whoseadjusting feature is a ball and socket and the socket being contractableas a means of locking the holding element in any adjusted position.

A still further object is to provide a workholder device of the kindmentioned that may be operated quickly and positively either undermechanical action or hydraulic pressure. l.

A still further object is-to provide a work holding device of the kindmentioned that is strong and sturdy, easy and inexpensive to make, andone that is positive and highly efficient in its operation and work, andalso a device that is durable and long lived. These and other objectswill be more fully described andexplained as this descriptionprogresses.

Now referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the mechanically operated form of the workholder device.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the work holder device as shown-in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the work holder device as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view through the work holderdevice, the view being taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2 and lookingin the direction of the arrows.'-

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through the hoisting device for theclamp, 'the view being taken along the line VV in Fig. l, and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the hydraulically operated form of the workholding device.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the work holder device as seen from the rightof Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the work holder device as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view of the work holder device,the view being taken along the line IX-IX in Fig. 7 and looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Similar numerals of reference designate the same parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

In Figures 1 to 5 inclusive is shown the mechanically operated form ofmy improved work holder device which comprises a base element In that isprovided with holes ll through which bolts or screws may be passed tofasten the work holder device to the top of a work bench or othersuitable support for the device. Centrally positioned on the baseelement Ill and integrally formed thereon is an upwardly directedannular 5 portion I00, the inside of which is threaded as at l2. l

At I3 is shown a tubular element, the lower end of which is threadedinto the annular portion ma of the base element Ill. The upper end ofthe in tubular element is provided with an outwardly extending annularflange portion I311 that is integrally formed on the tubular element l3.

At the lower portion of the tubular element i3 and on a diametric axistherethrough is positioned 16 a cam. shaft l4. The outer end of the camshaft H is provided with a lever arm by which the cam shaft ll may berevolved. The inner end of the cam shaft is joumalled in a bearing l6formed in the tubular-element l3 and on the diametrical go axis thereof.Integrally formed on the inner end of the cam shaft II and positionedwithin the hollow portion thereof is a cam II. On the cam I1 isintegrally formed a pin i8 that is in axial alignment withthe cam shaftl4 and is journalled 25 in a bearing is formed in the tubular element I4and on an axis common to the cam shaft l4 and I6. slidably positionedwithin the tubular element I3 is a shaft 20 the lower end of which restson 80 the cam l1 and is movable longitudinally by the action of the caml'l.

At 2| is shown the lower portion of a ball socket which normally restson top of the upper end of the tubular element 13 and is engageable bythe 3 upper end of the shaft 20 so that as the shaft 20 raises under theaction of. the cam I! the shaft 20 will engage and raise the lowerportion 2| of the ball socket for purposes that will later be madeobvious.

Rigidly mounted in the flange portion B41 is one end of a pin 22; theother end of the pin 22 projects upwardly from the flange lid and isslidably seated in a hole 23 in the lower portion 2| of the ball socket.

45 At 24 is shown a ball socket cap element, the lower portion of whichencloses the lower portion 2| of the ball socket and also the flangeportion 13d of the tubular element I3.

At 25 is a ring that is slidable on the tubular 5o element l3 and isadapted to engage the under side of the flange I311. The ring 25 isrigidly attached to the ball socket cap 24 by means of bolts 26 thatpass through the ring 25 and are threaded into the skirt or lowerportion 01' the 55 ball socket cap element 24.

At 21 is shown a ball resting on the lower ball socket portion2| andbeing enclosed by and supporting the ball socket cap element. The cap"24 is provided with a slot 23 through which extends a pin 23, the innerend of the pin 23 being rigidly mounted on the ball 21 with the axis ofthe pin 23 passing through the center of the ball '21. The slot 23 is ofsuch length and in such a positionthat the pin 23 may be rocked to anyposition from horizontal to vertical. Also the cap 24 may be revolvedabout the vertical axis of.

the tubular element |3 which makes it possible to position the pin 23 atany point about the vertical axis and at any selected angle formed bythe vertical axis and the axis of the pin 23. On the I outer end of thepin 23 is a plate 33 that is pro- 33 to hold particular pieces of workto be worked on.

The operation of the device is as follows. The work to be worked on isattached to the plate 33, whereupon the work may be revolved about theaxis of the pin 23 and the vertical axis of the tubular element l3 andalso placed in any position from horizontal to vertical to obtain thedesired position that the work is to be held. This being done the camshaft is rocked to the position shown in Figures 4 and 5, whereupon thecam I! raises the shaft 23 which in turn raises the lower portion 2| ofthe ball seat to rigidly bind the ball 21 in its adjusted position so asto rigidly hold the work in its adjusted position. The work may beeasily and quickly adjusted to. any other desired position by revolvingthe cam shaft so as to drop the shaft 23 and thereby release the ball 21so that the work may be moved to the new desired position whereupon thecam shaft |4 may again be turned so as to raise'the shaft 23 and socketelement 2| to rigidly bind and hold the ball and associated parts asabove described.

v The device shown in Figures 6, '7, 8 and 9 is hydraulically operatedand the parts |3, |3a, 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 21, 28, 29, 33 and3l, andthe assembly and operation thereof are identical with those shown inFigures 1 to inclusive, except that the tubular element I3, in Figures6, 7, 8 and 9, is an oil cylinder in which is positioned a plunger 23athat is slidable longitudinally in the cylinder |3a.

Beneath the plunger 23a is a cup 32 that is also slidable in thecylinder I31: and is preferably made of a flexible material such asrubber or leather 'that will expand against the wall of the cylinder |3ato make a tight joint to prevent the leakage of the oil from thecylinder I311.

The base element |3b is provided with a centrally positioned andupwardly extending cup like formation |3c in which is threaded the lowerend of the cylinder element l3. The base and cup elements I3?) and |3care provided with an outwardly and upwardly directed cylindricallyshaped element 33 in which is positioned a cylinder 34 that is providedwith a passage 35 that connects between the cylinders I and 34. The

.passage being smaller than the cylinder 34 provides a ledge 36 at thebottom of the cylinder 34.

In the cylinder 34 is a helical spring 31 the .lower end of which restson the ledge 33 and the upper end of which is seated in a flexible cupelement 33 that is slidably positioned in the cyl- I inder 34.

Also slidably positioned in the cylinder 34 is a plunger 33, one end ofwhich rests against the cup 33. The other end of the plunger 33 is en-,gageable by a cam 43, on which is-integrally The cam 43 ispoformed ahandle element 4|. sltloned in aslot 42, cut in the outer end of thecylinder wall 33. The cam 42 is pivotally mounted on a pin or screw 43that passes through the outer end of the walls of the cylinder wall 33and the cam 43 in such a .manner that the handle 4| and cam 43 may berocked as indicated by the arrow A whereby the cam 43 actuates theplunger 33 as and for the purpose described.

The operation ofthe modified form of the de-,

vice shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive is as follows. The work-to beworked on may be attached to the plate or holding element 33 and thenmoved to any desired position as previously described, whereupon thelever handle 43 may be rocked downwardly to the postion shown in Fig. 9,whereupon the cam 43 engages the plunger 33 and forces it and the cup 33downwardly into the cylinder 34 against the pressure of the spring 31whereupon oil in the cylinder 34 is forced from the cylinder 34 throughthe passage 35 andinto.

the cylinder |3a to be added to the oil already filling the cylinder |3awhereupon the cup 32 and plunger 23a are forced upwardly with the upperend of the plunger 23a engaging and lifting the lower portion 2| of theball socket to bind and hold the ball and parts associated therewith thesame as previously described.

Now by rocking the handle 4| upwardly in the direction of the arrow Athe cam 43 is rocked downwardly and away from the plunger 33 whereuponthe spring 31 pushes the cup 38 and plunger 39 toward the cam 43 therebydrawing oil from the cylinder |3 into the cylinder 34 which in turndraws the cup 32 and plunger 23a downwardly into the cylinder |3athereby dropping the lower portion 2| of the ball socket to release theball 21 for adjustment as previously described.

Such modifications of my invention may be employed as lie within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit andintention of my invention. Now having fully shown and described myinvention, what I claim work holding element, a support pin for the workholding element, and a ball, said pin being rigidly carried on saidball, a socket for said ball, and means for contracting said socket torigidly bind and hold said ball in adjusted positions and said socketbeing in axial alignment with, and being swivelly supported on one endof astandard.

2. In a work support device; a. work holder and a ball, said work holderbelngrig'ldly supported by said ball, a ball socket, said ball beingseated in said ball socket, said ball socket comprising a ball supportsection and a cap section, a standard, said ball support section beingsupported on said standard, said cap section being swivelly mounted onsaid standard, and plunger means in said standard, said plunger beingengageable with the said ball support section and cam means forimparting movement to said plunger and ball support section to bind andhold the ball inadjusted positions between the bail support section andthe cap sections of the socket.

3. In a work support device; the combination 1. In a work holder device;in combination, a

of a work holder, a pin and a ball, and a ball socket, said ball socketcomprising a ball socket capelement having a skirt thereon and a ballsupport element slidably positioned within the skirt of the cap, saidcap having a slot therein, said slot extending approximately a onequarter turn downwardly from the vertical axis at the top of the cap toa point on the side thereof, said work holder being rigidly supported onsaid pin, and said pin being rigidly supported on said ball and beingalso revolvable and movable in said slot, and said ball being positionedin said socket, a standard, said cap being swivelly fixed to one endofsaid standard, a plunger, said plunger being slidable longitudinally insaid standard and engageable with said ball support element for themovement thereof to bind and hold said ball in adjusted positions, andmeans for actuating said plunger.

4. In a work support device as defined in claim 3, a cam carried on ashaft, said cam and cam shaft being a means for actuating said plunger,said cam shaft being revolvably carried by said standard in such aposition that the plunger will rest on the cam and be actuated by thecam upon the revolvable movement thereof by the cam shaft.

5. In a work support device as defined in claim 3, said plungeractuating means comprising a cylinder in which said plunger isslidablymounted therein, a second cylinder, said second cylinder beingconnected with the first said cylinder, and a plunger slidablypositioned in the second said cylinder, said cylinders being filled withhydraulic material," a cam, and handle means thereon for the rockablemoving thereof, said cam being pivotally mounted at the end of thesecond said cylinder and in engaging position with the second saidplunger for the engagement and movement thereof to move the first saidplunger for the actuating of the ball support element.

6. In a work support device as defined in claim 3, said plungeractuating means comprising a cylinder in which said plunger is slidablymounted therein, a second cylinder, said second cylinder being connectedwith the first said cylinder, and a plunger slidably positioned in thesecond said cylinder, said cylinders being filled with hydraulicmaterial, a cam, and handle means thereon for the rockable movingthereof, said cam being pivotally mounted at the end of the second saidcylinder and in engaging position with the second said plunger for theengagement and movement thereof to move the first said plunger for theactuating of the ball support element, a spring, said spring beingpositioned in the second said cylinder and being under compressionbetween the bottom of the cylinder and the second said plunger so as tocause the second said plunger to recede and follow the said cam as it isrevolved away from the second said plunger for the purpose of impartinga similar withdrawing action of the first said plunger to release theball in the ball socket for adjustment.

' CLEMON W. BARKER.

